title: Impulsivity and the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in a non-clinical sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impulsivity has been associated with serotonergic system functions. However, few researchers have investigated the relationship between a polymorphism in the promoter of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and the different components of impulsivity in a non-clinical population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and the different components of impulsivity in a non-clinical population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We administered two neuropsychological tests, the Continuous Performance Task and the Iowa Gambling Task, to 127 healthy participants to measure their levels of motor, attentional and non-planning impulsivity. Then, these participants were grouped by genotype and gender, and their scores on impulsivity measures were compared. There were no significant differences between group scores on attentional, motor and non-planning impulsivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that 5-HTTLPR genotype is not significantly associated with subsets of impulsive behavior in a non-clinical sample when measured by neuropsychological tests. These findings are discussed in terms of the sensitivity of neuropsychological tests to detect impulsivity in a non-clinical population and the role of gender and race in the relationship between the 5-HTTLPR and impulsivity.
authors.affiliation: College of Human, Social and Health Sciences, FUMEC University, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. menezeslage@gmail.com
authors.forename: Guilherme M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lage
authors.forename: Leandro F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Malloy-Diniz
authors.forename: Lorena O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Marisa A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Suzana S C
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abrantes
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011153:Population; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins